Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that begins in the prostate glad, a small part of the reproductive system. Only men have prostate glands. This type of cancer is considered to be the third most common form of death for men. It is the most common form of death in men aged 80 or older. In America it affects one in six men.
Though this form of cancer is difficult to detect without an examination administered by a doctor, there are indeed certain symptoms that may indicate the presence of the cancer. These symptoms include, but are not limited to, the following: urinating repeatedly, especially during the night, having difficultly urinating (including starting and stopping), experiencing pain and discomfort during the urination process, difficultly, sustaining an erection, experiencing pain when ejaculating, the presence of blood in the semen or urine and the presence of pain and discomfort in the area of the lower back and/or thighs. If you experience one or more of these symptoms you should consult your primary care physician immediately. Furthermore, while these symptoms may be indicate the presence of prostate cancer, they could be manifestations of other conditions or diseases.
There are indeed various risk factors that can very well increase one's chances of getting this type of cancer. While unfortunately some of these factors cannot be avoided, such as age and genetics, other can be.
Age is one of the of primary risk factors. When a man gets to be between the ages of 40 to 60, he has a 1 in 40 chance of getting get this disease. Those between 60 to 70 years of age have an even higher risk: 1 in 16. Research has shown that the average age that men get this form of cancer is 69.
A second serious risk factor is race. Compared to Caucasian men, Black Americans are 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed. Therefore, it is paramount that African American men get examined for this type of cancer regularly.
A third factor is genetics. If a family member, especially a father or brother, had prostate cancer, then one is twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease. If the family member developed the disease at a young age (considered by researchers to be 54 years or younger), then the risk can climb even further.
The fourth risk factor, though one that can be potentially avoided, is the area where you live. Men residing in the United States have 18 percent chance of being diagnosed. Areas in other countries, such as some rural parts of China, the risk decreases to just two percent. Additionally, research has demonstrated that American men living north of 40 degrees latitude (in such cities as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Columbus, Ohio) have a higher risk than those living in other locations.
A final risk factor, and again one that can be avoided, is diet. High fat diets have been suggested to be a contributing factor in developing the disease. Researchers have illustrated that this form of cancer is more prevalent in countries where meat and dairy are essential components of the national diet. The disease is less common in countries where meat and dairy products are eaten at a lesser rate.
If you are a male and have any of the risk factors mentioned above, its is highly advisable to consult your doctor and schedule a test. One can never be too cautious.
Maria Gonzales, a health blogger interested in a wide range of diseases and conditions, including health 2.0, oncology, cancer, cancer de mama, cancer do colon, and more.
